Rotating spear



W. J. MILLER ROTATING SPEAR July 7, 1931.

Filed June 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l W. J. MILLER ROTATWING SPEAK July 7, 1931.

Filed June 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. MILLER, OF SULPHUR, LOUISIANA ROTATING, SPEAK Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to a rotating spear, and it is an obj ectof the invention to provide a device of this kind which may be readily released upon jarring and wherein the drill stem serves as a medium to produce a desired impact to 'efiect release of the spear, the construction of the spear being such as to permit the drill and the shank directly connected thereto to readily rotate as desired when lowered in the casing.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved rotating spear whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a rotating spear constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, an associated drill stem being shown in fragment;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating certain details of construction;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing certain of the parts in a second position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substan tially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4: looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw- 1929. Serial No. 374,181.

ings, 1 denotes the lower portion of a drill stem which has threaded therein the upper portion of an elongated tubular shank 2. At a desired point above the lower end thereof, the shank 2 has its wall enlarged to provide a surrounding head 3.

The lower end portion of the shank 2 has threaded or otherwise engaged therewith a desired tool 4 herein disclosed as constituting a guide reamer provided with cutting teeth '5. It is believed to be obvious, however, that any other desired tool may be employed, such as a casing cutter. The applied tool t affords a shoulder 6 with which is associated thrust bearing washers 7, herein disclosed as two in number. The washers '7 surround the shank 2 immediately adjacent the applied tool 4: and also surrounding the shank 2 and directly above the applied washers 7 is a tapered mandrel 8. This mandrel 8 is mounted upon the shank 2 for free rotation therearound. I

Surrounding the lower portion of the shank 2 is an elongated slip sleeve S in which the surrounding head 3 of the shank2 is snugly engaged. The lower portion of the sleeve'S is provided with a series of circumferentially equidistantly. spaced open slots 9 resulting in a plurality of elongated gripping arms 10 carryin the exterior gripping teeth 11, said teeth being upwardly disposed.

The portion of'the slip sleeve S defined by the outer or free end portions of the arms 10 has its bore tapered for coaction with the tapered mandrel 8 so that upon relative movement of the slip sleeve S and the mandrel 8 one toward the other will result in desired effective expansion of the lower portion of the sleeve S.

The upper portion. of the sleeve S has its wall reduced in thickness from within, as at 12, and within the resultant enlarged bore of the sleeve S is threaded a portion of a guide nut 14: the remaining or outer portion extending down within the space between the shank 2 and the sleeve S above the head 3. The upper or outer end of the guide nut is defined by an outstanding annular flange 15 which has contact with the adjacent or upper end of the sleeve S. At diametrically opposed points the upper or outer end portion of the nut 14 is provided with the grooves or channels 16 through which are adapted to pass the lugs 17 carried by the shank 2 at desired position thereon. The grooves or channels 16 extend lengthwise of the nut 14 and the upper or outer end portion of each of said grooves or channels is continued by a substantially V-shaped recess or pocket 18 providing an efiective means for guiding a lug 17 into the groove or channel 16.

By providing the groove or channel 16 the resultant reduced outer wall 19 adds strength to the upper portion of the guide nut 14: to prevent spreading under the influence of the lugs 17 and also to facilitate the desired application of the nut in applied or working position.

The lower end of each of the grooves or channels 16 communicates from above with the side portion of an opening 20 suitably positioned within the wall of the nut 14, said opening 20 being of a width equal to substantially twice the width of the groove or channel 16. By this means when the drill stem 1 and shank 2 are lowered to pass the lugs 17 down through the channels 16 a quarter turn of the drill and shank will bring the lugs 17 under the upper edge walls of the opening 20 whereby the spear is in pulling adjustment. This arrangement of the lugs is employed for the purpose of pulling the slip sleeve from the wall casing after the mandrel 8 has been jarred downwardly in order to release the spear so that the spear can be removed in the event the spear is unable to pull the casing.

The normal pulling position is when the lugs 17 are above the slip sleeve S which is also the position of the lugs 17 when the stem 1 and shank 2 are in rotation.

lVith the lugs 17 in alignment with the grooves or channels 16 requisite pull may be had to cause the mandrel 8 to expand the lower portion of the slip sleeve S or to permit the head 3 upon dropping of the shank 2 and stem 1 to have jarring contact with the mandrel 8 to effect a release of the arms 10 from the casing with which they may have 51 holding engagement.

In Figure 7 I illustrate an embodiment of my invention wherein the mandrel 8" and the tool 4 have interposed therebetween a rubber packer P surrounding the shank 2.

The use of this packer is of advantage as the pulling up to engage the arms of the slip sleeve with the wall of the casing will cause the packer P tohave tight contact with the casing resulting in a joint preventing circulation of pump pressure from coming back and pass by the slip. This pressure against the packer P has a lifting effect on the pipe below and thereby the efliciency of my improved spear is materially increased.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a rotating spear constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting ment lengthwise of the shank, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve. 2. A spear comprising an elongated shank having a surrounding head intermediate its ends, a tapered mandrel carried by and surrounding the lower portion of the shank, a slip sleeve surrounding the shank and having its lower end portion provided with gripping arms, said slip sleeve having direct free movement lengthwise of the shank, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from Within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve, and means engaged with the shank below the mandrel for engaging the same.

3. A spear comprising an elongated shank having a surrounding head intermediate its ends, a tapered mandrel carried by andsurrounding the lower portion of the shank, a slip sleeve surrounding the shank and having its lower end portion provided with gripping arms, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve, and means engaged with the shank below the mandrel for engaging the same, said means being yieldable and serving as a packer.

4:. A spear comprising an elongated shank having a surrounding head intermediate its ends, a tapered mandrel carried by and surrounding the lower portion of the shank, a slip sleeve surrounding the shank and having its lower end portion provided with gripping arms, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve, and a lug projecting from the shank, the upper portion of the sleeve having a bayonet-like slot to receive the lug.

5. A spear comprising an elongated shank having a surrounding head intermediate its ends, a tapered mandrel carried by and surrounding the lower portion of the shank, a slip sleeve surrounding the shank and having its lower end portion provided with gripping arms, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve, and a lug projecting from the shank, the upper portion of the sleeve having a bayonet-like slot to receive the lug, the shank and sleeve having independent relative rotation when the shank is in a position to place the lug above the sleeve.

6. A spear comprising an elongated shank having a surrounding head intermediate its ends, a tapered mandrel carried by and surrounding the lower portion of the shank, a slip sleeve surrounding the shank and having its lower end portion provided with gripping arms, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve, a nut engaged with the upper end of the sleeve and extending therein, the upper portion of the nut having an internal groove extending lengthwise thereof, the lower portion of the nut having an opening, the groove communicating from above with a side portion of the opening, and a lug extending outwardly from the shank for passage through the groove into the opening, said opening being of a width to permit the shank and sleeve to have relative turning movement when the lug is within the opening.

7. A spear comprising an elongated shank having a surrounding head intermediate its ends, a tapered mandrel carried by and surrounding the lower portion of the shank, a slip sleeve surrounding the shank and having its lower end portion provided with gripping arms, the tapered mandrel engaging said gripping arms from within, the intermediate head of the shank fitting substantially snug within the sleeve, a nut engaged with the upper end of the sleeve and extending therein the upper portion of the nut having an internal groove extending lengthwise thereof, the lower portion of the nut having an opening, the groove communicating from above with a side portion of the opening, and a lug extending outwardly from the shank for passage through the groove into the opening, said opening being of a width to permit the shank and sleeve to have relative turning movement when the lug is within the opening, the upper portion of the nut being provided with an upwardly flared recess to guide the lug into the groove.

8. A spear comprising an elongated shank signature.

WILLIAM J. MILLER. 

